Nationwide celebrates 100 years of protecting what matters most
February 3, 2026 by Nationwide
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nationwide, one of the largest and most diversified insurance and financial services companies in the United States, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026. To mark the milestone, Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker has shared a letter reflecting on the company’s historic “firsts,” its impact on customers and communities, and his gratitude to the partners who helped make this centennial possible.
To our Partners and our Community,
In 2026, Nationwide is celebrating its centennial — our first 100 years in business. Less than one-half of 1% of companies reach this milestone. We’re grateful to have earned the trust of our partners, members and the community and take seriously our role in helping people protect what matters most.
Nationwide got its start when a group of Ohio farmers came together to get a fair price for auto insurance for those who didn’t live in the city. Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company was formed with just $10,000 to solve a problem for customers. That spirit of protection remains at the heart of the company today. The new company’s first policy was written on April 14, 1926. Since that time, Nationwide has grown into one of the largest providers of insurance and financial services in America.
Working closely with our intermediary partners, we’ve made it our mission to protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care. Whether it’s protecting families with auto, home, pet and life insurance, protecting financial futures through annuities and retirement plans, or offering businesses the specialized protection they need through solutions like excess & surplus, institutional life insurance and stop loss coverage, Nationwide is uniquely positioned as a modern mutual to support our members.
We’ve earned this position through decades of innovation in support of our customers. As we look ahead to what’s next, it’s important to reflect on a few of our “firsts”:
- In 1926, Nationwide paid its very first auto claim for a stolen tire, rim and a spotlight. The claim was paid within 24 hours and the company adopted the claims promise “fair, frank, firm and friendly,” setting an early expectation that customers would get fast, transparent help when something went wrong.
- In 1937, Nationwide’s first Safety Officer built a custom “paintball” car that fired paint on the ground at three points in a braking maneuver so people could see how long it actually takes for a driver to react and stop a car; the car toured county fairs, Farm Bureau meetings and high schools, turning cutting-edge road safety education into a traveling show for customers and their communities.
- In 1954, Nationwide became the first insurance company to offer mutual funds, opening the door for everyday investors to access professionally managed, diversified portfolios. This early move into investment products helped customers build long-term financial security alongside their traditional insurance coverage.
- In the 1960s, Nationwide became the first company to offer incentives for a relatively new safety feature in cars — seat belts; at the time, only about 9% of cars had seat belts. But, as more cars hit the road, accidents increased and it just made sense to reward our customers for buckling up.
- In the 1970s and 1980s, Nationwide helped reinvent catastrophe response by sending mobile claims units directly into disaster zones — starting with a pull behind camper after the 1974 Xenia, Ohio, tornadoes — so customers could file claims, talk to adjusters and start rebuilding from a rolling office located where they needed it most.
- In 1975, Nationwide introduced the first deferred compensation annuity designed for public employees, giving teachers, first responders and other public servants a new way to save pre-tax for retirement. This innovation helped lay the groundwork for modern public sector retirement programs and expanded access to long-term savings tools for millions of workers.
- In 1999, Nationwide was the first to combine comprehensive long-term care benefits with a retirement savings vehicle in a single, one-time investment product. By integrating protection and accumulation in one solution, the company helped customers prepare for future care needs while still growing their retirement nest egg.
- In 2007, the company launched telematics, using in-car data to reward safer driving with personalized discounts and giving customers more control over their insurance premiums while reinforcing safer habits behind the wheel.
- In 2017, Nationwide Financial introduced one of the industry’s first fee‑based fixed indexed annuities — designed for fee‑based advisors and their clients, aligning annuity solutions with modern advisory fee structures rather than commissions.
- In 2021, Nationwide was among the first to expand our offering to a suite of protected retirement solutions that provide guaranteed lifetime income within a workplace retirement plan. These solutions give employees entering retirement confidence that their retirement savings will provide income as long as they live, even in volatile markets.
Ask any Nationwide employee and you’ll hear we’re not an insurance or financial services company — we’re a protection company, and we believe that protection extends to the communities where we live and work. In fact, Nationwide’s commitment to communities has been a defining feature of its first 100 years.
Through the Nationwide Foundation, established in 1959, the company and its employees have contributed more than $745 million to our communities since the year 2000, focusing on crisis stabilization, affordable housing, and economic empowerment. Additionally, the Nationwide Foundation has contributed $170 million in transformational gifts to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, since 2006, supporting the wellbeing of children and families worldwide.
Thousands of Nationwide employees across the country give their time, talent and financial support each year to local organizations. In partnership with the Red Cross, the company opened America’s first full-time corporate blood donation center in 1995 and we currently have more than 170 leaders serving on 216 nonprofit boards across the U.S. For our centennial year, we set a goal of 100,000 volunteer hours to celebrate and deepen the personal impact Nationwiders make in support of our neighbors. We look forward to announcing additional community investments in April 2026 to commemorate our milestone anniversary.
We believe our past informs our future and value your enduring partnership. Thank you for your continued trust and support as we pursue our vision of becoming the most trusted, most caring and most customer-focused protection company.
Sincerely,
Kirt Walker, Chief Executive Officer
Nationwide’s centennial comes as the company continues to invest in its long-term strength and ability to serve members in a dynamic risk environment. The company maintains strong capital and long-standing relationships with members and distribution partners across the country, supported by consistently strong ratings from leading agencies.
As Nationwide looks beyond its centennial, the company remains focused on helping protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care.
Visit Nationwide’s newsroom and follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X to get updates as the company celebrates these milestones and more throughout the year.
About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance.
For more information about Nationwide and Nationwide’s ratings, visit www.nationwide.com or Company Ratings — Nationwide.
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